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Historians and biographers have pointed out that it was common practice for white entrepreneurs in the South to eclipse the contributions of Black women in the culinary sector. While some argue that Sanders' unique cooking method—pressure frying—was what truly set KFC apart, the lack of credit given to potential recipe origins raises important questions about originality.
The Conflicted Legacy of the Colonel
The Colonel's legacy is also marred by personal conflicts with the very brand he helped build. In 1978, he filed a libel suit against KFC after criticizing the quality of their food, claiming the gravy was akin to "wallpaper paste." The court ultimately agreed that Sanders had not defamed anyone, suggesting that the food had indeed changed since he initially established KFC.